busenbenz



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J..J. BUSENBENZ.

VENDING APPARATUS. No. 430,463. Patented June 17, 1890;

1" III mm 1 (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. J. BUSENBENZ.

VENDING APPARATUS. No. 430,463. Patented June 1'7, 1 890.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JACOB J. BUSENl-EENZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TI'IE UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC PERFUMING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VENDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,463, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed February 3, 1390. Serial No. 338,948. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB J. BUsENBENz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Vending Apparatus of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of vending apparatus in which the mechanism for delivering the article is actuated by the insertion into the apparatus of the purchase-price in the form of a coin.

The object of my improvement is to provide a vending apparatus of novel and gen erally improved construction and manner of operation.

- In its broadest sense my invention involves the employment of pneumatic pressure as the immediate force for effecting the delivery, and I desire to be understood as including the same as within my invention WIHLEGXGT the mechanism employed in conjunction. with it in a vending apparatus and whatever the article for the delivery of which the apparatus is adapted. This principle of the operation I find to be advantageously applicable in connection with ele trically-operated mechanism for controlling the pneumatic pressure, and which is actuated by closing the normallyopen circuit through the medium of the coin inserted into the apparatus as the purchaseprice for the article to be delivered. I have applied the said principle to an apparatus for the sale and delivery of a particulararticle pert'umery-having to that end invented an apparatus especially adapted for such sale and delivery, and which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a View in elevation, partly broken, of my improvement in the form of a perfumery-vending apparatus; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view taken at the line 2 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a section taken on the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4c, a section taken on the line at of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 5 a perspective view showing the sign detail.

A is a hollow standard of any suitable material, and preferably of the rectangular shape illustrated.

I3 is a chamber surmounting the standard and serving to contain the main portion of the delivery mechanism hereinafter described,

.and also the article to be delivered, in the present case perfumery, though I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to such particular use, or necessarily to the delivery of articles in liquid form.

In the chamber B, preferably in one side and near the center, as shown, is an opening 7", which should be in the form of a slot, from which extends a chute C to an opening p in the base of the said chamber, the opening 1) being flanked on two of its sides by wooden or other strips 0, (see Fig. l extending downward and parallel with each other from the lower surface of the base q. Between the strips 0 are light flat metal springs 22, one being secured at each of the two open sides of the aperture p upon the base q, the two springs converging toward their lower ends. The sides 0 and springs it form, practically, an ex tension of the chute C, sufficiently vielding at two opposite sides to permit the weightof the coin D, introduced into the chute at the slot 0", readily to force its passage between the springs n on its way to a coin-receptacle E, while having contact with such springs throughout their length.

The springs 7b are in the circuit. of an electric generator (battery) F, which for convenience may be housed in the standard A, as shown in Fig. 1, and owing to the normallyseparated condition of the springs they maintain the circuit of the battery normally open.

G is an electro-magnet supported in the chamber B in the circuit of the battery F and having its poles in suitable relation to an armature G, fastened near each of its opposite ends to a vertically-dispmsed lever m, the said levers being secured between their extremities, thereby to afford a lower short arm and an upper longarm of each, toa rock-shaft m, near the opposite ends thereof, where it is journaled in suitable bearings :21. The upper end of each lever m is pivotally connected with a cross bar or link Z, near one end of the latter, toward which it is bifurcated to receive the upper end of such lever m, and at their non-bifurcated ends the links Zare pivotally connected with the opposite ends and below the fulcrum of a bent lever lI, fulcrumed to a suitable support, as at the innerrearside of the chamber B, and having its upper portion formed into a head k adapted to conform to the contour of a side of a collapsible and expansible air receiver or bag I, which should be provided with an in wardly-opening check-valve, as shown. From above the fulcrum one or both of the levers m should be controlled by a spring 00' to draw the armature from the magnet whenever the latter is demagnetized, as hereinafter described.

The apparatus may be arranged with a single supply of one kind of perfume or other article to be delivered or with several sources of supply of the same, or of different kinds of perfumery or other articles, from any one of which the amount paid for by the coin may be caused to be delivered by the purchaser, the operation of the part-s described being the same whether there be one source or many sources of the supply. For a perfumeryvending apparatus, however, and for which purpose the specific construction illustrated and involving my improvement is, as aforesaid, especially designed, I prefer to provide in the same apparatus a nu mberof the sources of supply, each containing a different kind of perfume, in order that the purchaser in inserting a coin of proper denomination (say a copper cent) into the slot 0" may select according to his preference. Accordingly I provide in the chamber B one receptacle K for each of any desired number of different kinds of perfume, eight such receptacles being shown in Fig. 3. From near the bottom of each receptacle K extends a rubberoutlet-tube kout of the chamber B in an upward direction and through the front side of the chamber, as shown, where it terminates in a spraying-nozzle 7c. 1

To the bifurcated end of each arm or link Z is pivotally secured, to extend vertically downward from the end of the link, a handle 71, and the two handles 2 are connected together by a rock-shaft h, passing horizontally through them near their lower ends and suitably journaled in opposite ends of the chamber B, as shown in Fig. 3. At intervals along the shaft h, which should, as represented, be angular in cross-section between its journal ends, are provided, to extend transversely thereof, cross-heads h, one being provided coincident with each outlet-tube 70. Each cross-head h is provided on one side near its opposite ends with studs 7Z2, caused to extend through longitudinal slots 7L3 in the rear ends of fingers f and f, which should be tapered at their forward ends, where they coincide with the plane of an outlet-tube 7c and form valves, for a purpose hereinafter described, being supported in a suitable guide-bracket e. A spring a bears against the rear end of each valve f and a similar spring 6 against that of each valve From the bag I extends a pipe I, containing an ordinary or any suitable form of inwardly-opening check-valve v and leading into a pipe or chamber 1 which should be horizontally disposed, as shown, and from which proceed the air-tubes (Z, one for each receptacle K, and which should, like the tubes 7;, be formed of yielding material, such as rubber. Obviously, it but one receptacle K is employed inthe apparatus only one'tube (Z is required, which could lead directly from the bag I. Each tube (1 communicates with an outlet-tube 7c near the point of coincidence therewith of the valve-finger f, being caused, in its course to the point of its said communi cation, to pass through a push-button device L, provided one for each air-tube d. I constructthe device L with a sleeve 0, extending in proper position through the front wall of the chamber 13, and through which is passed a stem 0', having a head 0 at its outer end, the sleeve being slotted laterally to receive a guide-pin c on the stem, and onv the inner end of the stem 0 is a spring 0 confined between a cross-bar c, V-shaped longitudinally on its outer side, and a bearing c common to all the stems 0.

Above each push-button device L the front side of the chamber B is provided with an open ing 1), behind which issupported a sign I) on the end of a rod b extending upward from a float Z) in. the respective receptacle K, and provided with stops Z) and b, respectively, inside and outside the receptacle. The stops are so relatively placed that while the float is sustained by the contents in the receptacle the lower,

part of the sign 1), havingindicated thename of the perfume in the receptacle to which it. belongs, is displayed at the opening b, but that when the contents are exhausted, or nearly so, causing the float to sink as far as the button 19 will permit, the upper part of the sign Z), having indicated upon it the empty condition of the receptacle, as by the word Out, will be so displayed.

The operation is as follows: The apparatus is intended to be located in a suitable place (store) accessible to the public. By dropping a coin I) (penny) into the slot r it courses down the chute O and between the springsn and thence falls into the box E. On reaching the springs the coin closes the circuit of the battery F, thereby energizing the magnet G and causing it to attract its armature G. The consequent movement of the armature turns the long arm of each lever on backward, causing it to draw against the lower end of the bent compressor-lever H and force its head k against the air-bag I, therebycompressing its contents ora sufficient portion thereof through the pipe I into the air-pipe or air-pipes d up to the closures of the latter produced by the normal spring-pressure against them of the push-button cross-bars 0 A further result of the described movement of the levers m occasioned by the attraction of the armature is to turn the shaft it through the handles 1', and with the latter the cross-heads h. Owing to the longitudinal slots 7L3 in the valve-fingers f and f, (the lower of which are normally maintained against their respective tubes 7r,) there is some lost motion of the studs 71 in the turning of the cross-heads h, so that the lower valve-fingers f remain for a brief period in their normal positions of closing the tubes it, while the upper valve-fingers are advance, against the tubes by the resilient action of the springs e. \Vhen,however, the studs 7L2 reach the rear ends of their slots 7L3, they effect withdrawal of the valve-fingers f the tubes is being then closed by the valve'fingers f. This permits the contents of the receptacles K to rise in the tubes 70 up to the closures of the upper valve-fingers f, and thus beyond the points of communication with the delivery-tubes of the air-tubes d. All this takes place while the coin D is passing between the spring-contacts 91. As soon as the coin has cleared the springs, whereby the circuit is opened, the parts are all returned to their normal relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2, the spring or springs 00 operating to that end but the consequent re expansion of the air-bag I cannot Withdraw the compressed air from the tubes (1, owing to the check-valve o in the tube I. Thus the compressed air remains confined in the tubes (Z between their stoppages at the pushbutton devices L and the check-valve in the tube 1, though the entire quantity of the compressed fluid so confined is only suffi .cient to effect delivery of the perfume from one receptacle, which is produced as follows: The purchaser, after inserting his coin into the slot 0, selects from the exposed names of the different perfumes on the signs I) the kind he desires for perfumiug his handkerchief or the like and pushes the but-ton o to.

which the selected sign relates. This releases the tube d from the closing pressure of its puslrbutton cross-head c and permits the confined compressed air to pass the point of normal closure and enter the tube kywherein it forces the small quantity of perfume above the valve f out through the nozzle to which the article to be perfumed is applied.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of pneu mttlllC-PFGSSHIG mechanism, substantially as described, controllably communicating with the supply of the article to be delivered and automatically operated by the inserted coin to produce the pneumatic pressure required for effecting delivery of the article, and a yielding clamp accessible from without the said chamber and normally closing communication of the air-press ure mechanism with the supply of the said article, substantially as set forth,

2. In a coin-operated vending apparatus,

the chute to produce and store until released i by actuating the yielding clamp the airpressure required for effecting delivery of the article, substantially as set forth.

Ina coin-operated vending apparatus,

the combination, with the chamber containing a coin-chute C, of an air-receptacle I, controllably communicating with the suppl y of the article to be delivered, air-pressure mechanism for controlling the supply and discharge of the air-receptacle I, a yielding clamp accessible from without the said chamber and normally closing communication of the airpressure mechanism with the supply of the said article, and electrical mechanism, substantially as described, in normally-open circuit, closed by the coin inserted into the chute, and thereby automatically operated to actuate the air-pressure mechanism to compress air out of the receptacle I for effecting delivery of the article, substantially as set forth.

4,. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a receptacle K, having a delivery-tube 70 extending upward from near the base of the said receptacle to the point of delivery, an air-receptacle I, controllably communicating through a tube (1. with the tube It, a yielding clamp accessible from without the apparatus and normally closing communication of the air-receptacle with the receptacle K, and means, substantially as described, antomatically operated by the inserted coin to compress the receptacle I and force therefrom air under pressure into the tube (1 and store it therein until released by actuating the yielding clamp, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coiu-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a receptacle K, having a delivery-tube 75 extending upward from near the base of the said receptacle to the point of delivery, an air-receptacle I, controllably communicating through a tube (1 with the tube 712, a yielding clamp accessible from without the apparatus and normally closing communication of the air-receptacle with the receptacle K, air-pressu re mechanism for controlling the supply and discharge of the air-receptacle, and electrical mechanism, substantially as described, in normally-open circuit, closed by the inserted coin, and thereby automatically operated to actuate the said air-pressure mechanism to compress the receptacle I and force therefrom air under pressure into the tube (1, substantially as set forth.

6. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination, with the chamber B, containin g a coin-chute C, of a receptacle K, having a deliverytube 70 leading out of the chamber, an air-receptacle I, communicating through a tube 01 with the tube is, a push-button device L, normally closing the tube (1 between the air-receptacle and delivery-tube, and means, substantially as described, automatically operated by the coin inserted into the chute to compress the air-receptacle and force air under pressure into the tube all, substantially as set forth.

7. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination, with the chamber B, containing a coin-chute O, of a receptacle K, having a deliverytube It leading out of the chamber, an air-receptacle I, com municating through a tube (Z with the tube It, a push-button device L, normally closing the tube (1 between the air-receptacle and delivery-tube, and electrically-controlled mechanism, substantially as described, in normally-open circuit, closed by the coin inserted into the chute, and thereby automatically operated to compress the air-receptacle and force air under pressure into the tube d, substantially as set forth.

8. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination, with the chamber B, of a chute 0, extended at its lower end by confined springs n, forming terminals of a battery F, an electro-magnet G in the batterycircuit, a receptacle K, having a deliverytube is leading out of the chamber, an airreceptacle I, communicating through a tube d with the tube 70, a push-button device L, normally closing thetube cl between the airreceptacle and delivery-tube, a lever H, connected with the armature G of the magnet and actuated by the attraction thereof to com press the receptacle I, and Valves f and f, controlled by the movements of the armature to open and close the tube 75 alternately aboveand below the communication therewith of the tube cl, substantially as described.

9. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination, with the chamber B, of a chute C, extended at its lower end by confined springs '11, forming terminals of a bat-.

tery F, an electro-magnet G in the batteryclrcuit, a receptacle K, having a deliverytube 70 leading out of the chamber, an airreceptacle I, communicating through a tube cl with the tube 75, a push-button device L, normally closing the tube d between the airreceptacle and delivery-tube, a lever H, connected with the armature G of the magnet and actuated by movement thereof to compress the receptacle I, a rock-shaft h, carrying a cross-head h and connected with and turned by the movements of the armature, valve-fingers f and f, slotted longitudinally toward their rear ends and connected through the slots with the cross-head, near its opposite ends, and springs e and 6 bearing against the rear ends of the valve-fingers, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

10. In a coin-operated perfumery-vending apparatus, the combination of a chamber B, containing a chute 0, extended at its lower end by confined springs 72, forming terminals 7 of a battery F, an electro-magnet G in the battery-circuit, a series of receptacles K, each having a delivery-tube 76 extending from near its base out of the front side of the chamber B and terminating in a spraying-nozzle k, a float b in each receptacle K, supporting a sign I) at an opening bin the front side of the chamber, an air-receptacle I, communicating through tubes (1 with the tubes 70, push-button devices L, extending through the front side of the chamber B and normally closing 80 the tubes d between the air-receptacle and delivery-tubes, a lever H, connected with the armature G of the magnet and actuated by movement thereof to compress the receptacle I, a rock-shaft h, carrying at intervals cross heads h and connected with and turned by the movements of the armature, valve-fingers f and f for each delivery-tube, slotted longitudinally toward their rear ends and connected through the slots with the cross-heads 0 near their opposite ends, and springs e and 6 hearing against the rear ends of the valvefingers, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

' JACOB J. BUSENBENZ.

In presence of- J. W. DYRENFORTH, M. J. FRosT. 

